Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 10, footnote 2 of the publication entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, what the estimated averages in council tax are for all local authorities in each year from 2026-27.

The Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation is open from 20th June – 15th August. We are seeking views on the government’s proposed approach to determining new funding allocations for local authorities and fire and rescue authorities, building on the local authority funding reform: objectives and principles consultation.The estimated averages in council tax across the multi-year Settlement reflect the government’s intention to maintain the 3% core council tax referendum principle and a 2% principle for the adult social care precept, as set out in the Spending Review. These principles are in line with the previous government’s policy and OBR forecasts. The Department will publish updated estimates as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) 2026-27, including the specific core spending power figures for each local authority.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament will be given a full copy of the China Audit; whether it will be shared with HM Opposition on Privy Council terms; and if he will publish a security redacted version.

It is right that Parliament should have the opportunity to scrutinise the work of the Government, as its responsibility. There are mechanisms in place for certain parliamentarians to have access to classified Government material, such as parts of the Audit. It is not unusual that our China strategy - or that of any other country - remains internal. This is consistent with our Five Eyes partners.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.1.1 of the publication entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, whether the transitional arrangements will be subject to downward phasing.

In the Fair Funding Review 2.0 We are inviting views on a package of transitional arrangements to support local authorities to their new allocations in a sustainable way. While we will confirm the specific arrangements after the consultation closes, we expect the vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Spending Review period.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the publication entitled Count of Traveller Caravans, January 2025: England, published on 25 June 2025, what steps she is taking to help tackle the increase of (a) unauthorised traveller development on land they own and (b) unauthorised traveller encampments and trespass on land they do not own.

Whilst the number of caravans on unauthorised sites did increase between the 2024 and 2025 counts, local authorities have been encouraged to report excess numbers on authorised sites as unauthorised so the reported increase may reflect improved data quality, rather than a genuine increase in the number of caravans on this site type. More widely, the number of caravans on unauthorised encampments is a very small proportion of the overall number of caravans reported (1%) and subject to more fluctuation than other site types. In relation to local planning authority enforcement powers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 46336 on 30 April 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 6.2.5 of the consultation entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0, published on 20 June 2025, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of council tax increases on funding allocations to local authorities with average Band D council taxes below £2,000.

The government’s proposal is to make funding available in a way that enables all local authorities to provide the same level of service to their residents. We propose to do this by setting the notional Council Tax level at the average Band D level of Council Tax in England, which will fully equalise for a local authority’s ability to raise Council Tax. The Spending Review confirmed that the government intends to maintain the 3% core referendum principle and a 2% principle for the adult social care precept, in line with the previous government’s policy and OBR forecasts. These principles are to protect working people and ensure residents have the final say on excessive increases. We have set out further detail on these proposals and are inviting views on their potential impact, in the Fair Funding Review 2.0, which is open until 15 August 2025. Final referendum principles will be confirmed at the local government finance settlement in the usual way.

Communities and Local Government, whether revenues from selective licensing charges on private rented sector landlords (a) are ringfenced and (b) can be applied to the general revenue account; and whether councils can charge above cost recovery.

Selective licensing fees paid by landlords to local authorities should only be used to cover the costs of running schemes. Local authorities are not expected to profit from licensing, nor should they use licensing revenues to fund other local authority services.

Whether the bye-law powers in the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [HL] will allow local authorities and the Greater London Authority to issue fixed penalty notices through private sector firms.

Under measures contained in the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill, local transport authorities, including in London, will be able to appoint individuals as “authorised persons” to enforce bus byelaws, and issue fixed penalty notices, where relevant. It will be for local transport authorities to determine who they appoint, and that could include employees of private sector businesses. My department will be publishing guidance to support local transport authorities to implement this Bill measure.

Communities and Local Government, whether any members of the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia informed her Department of potential conflicts of interest.

The group members completed declaration of interest forms which have been held by the Department. Their appointment was made on the basis that they had no conflicts of interest in taking up this role. Should any potential conflict of interest arise in future, the group must notify MHCLG in writing and be prepared to step aside from decisions on which they are conflicted.

Communities and Local Government, whether private sector landlords will be required to pay multiple fees to register under (a) selective licensing introduced by local authorities, (b) the Private Rented Sector Database and (c) to be regulated under landlord redress schemes; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of consolidating those fees.

Selective licensing schemes introduced by local authorities, the Private Rented Sector (PRS) Database, and the PRS Ombudsman are separate regimes and fees will be structured and set according to the relevant legislation.My Department is exploring options for administrative alignment where possible; for example, aligning the registration process for the Ombudsman and Database.We will provide guidance which will make clear what landlords need to do to meet their new responsibilities.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the report by Localis entitled Reorganisation, local government and the future of English Devolution, published on 25 June 2025; and what estimate her Department has made of the reduction in the number of councillors from local government reforms.

I would like to thank Professors Copus and Leach for their analysis of the short and long-term history of English local government reform, which my officials are considering. The department has not made an estimate of the reduction in the number of councillors from local government reforms. It is important that councils have the right number of members to achieve the strategic, decision-making and representative roles of the authority. As I set out in my answer to PQ 26697 on 4 February 2025, my department is liaising closely with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) so that they are involved at the appropriate time to ensure fair electoral arrangements across the area of any new unitary local authorities.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she has taken to ensure the objectivity of the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition.

The working group includes members from a cross-section of society and have been selected for their technical expertise and experience and ability to work to deliver the objectives of the group.The Terms of Reference and full membership of the Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Working Group were published on Monday 24 March. Per the Terms of Reference, the Group is an independent, non-statutory body. These also set a requirement for group members to immediately raise any potential conflicts of interest with MHCLG.The group will make evidence-based recommendations for ministers to consider, informed by engagement with a wide cross section of individuals and organisations from across the sector.A Call for Evidence was recently published on gov.uk to ensure that the advice provided to Government reflects the diverse experiences and opinions of our faith communities’ and beyond across the country.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 10.4.2 of the document entitled The Fair Funding Review 2.0 of 20 June 2025, what (a) fees and (b) charges levied by local authorities are in scope of the consultation.

Responses to the December funding reform consultation highlighted several fees and charges where local authorities felt they were unable to recover the cost of the service. These included alcohol licensing, planning and building control. Through the Fair Funding Review 2.0, the government is now consulting on proposals to review local authority fees and charges and consider where there is a case for reform. We welcome views on this, including the scope of proposed reforms.

Communities and Local Government, how much her Department has spent on stationary since 5 July 2025.

MHCLG has spent £149 on stationery since 5 July 2025.

What estimate she has made of the number of independent schools closing in each (a) Council and (b) Mayoral Combined Authority in England.

His Majesty’s Treasury published a tax information and impact note concerning the introduction of VAT on private school fees and school closures. That assessment can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees/applying-vat-to-private-school-fees.

Communities and Local Government, on what dates Ministers in her Department have met with (a) Dominic Grieve and (b) the members of the Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia to discuss (i) that working group and (ii) the definition of Islamophobia.

Per the Terms of Reference for the Working Group, the Minister for Faith, Communities and Resettlement has had monthly meetings with the Chair of the Working Group. He has met with members of the Working Group on several occasions.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking through the planning system to support the (a) provision, (b) conversion and (c) construction of family annexes to dwellings.

The planning system already supports the creation of family annexes which are incidental to a dwelling, including their conversion and construction, through permitted development rights.Where the proposed development is outside the scope of the PDR, a planning application would be required.The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of empty homes owned by (a) local authorities, (b) the Government Property Agency and (c) other parts of central government.

The number of local authority owned homes that are empty in each local authority in England can be found in Live Table 615 here on vacant dwellings in England at local authority district level. Figures in this table show vacant dwellings owned by local authorities within each local authority area in England.The latest published statistics refer to vacant dwellings owned by local authorities in England on 31 March 2024, including homes earmarked for sale or demolition, or awaiting or undergoing major repairs.My Department does not hold figures specifically for homes owned by the Government Property Agency or other parts of central government.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of (a) curfews and (b) licensing restrictions at sporting venues.

The department has not made an assessment.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 61519 on Right to Buy Scheme, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the Right to Buy on receipts for new affordable housing construction since July 2024.

The government’s Right to Buy discounts review, which can be found on gov.uk here, was published alongside the Budget on 30 October 2024. It estimated that returning maximum cash discounts to pre-2012 levels would lead to a long-term average of approximately 1,700 Right to Buy sales per year, generating, on average, approximately £250 million of annual net receipts.As confirmed at that Budget, the government is allowing councils to retain the full capital receipt generated by a Right to Buy sale to support the delivery of replacement dwellings. As a result of all these measures, we believe local authorities will now be in a stronger position to replace the homes that are sold.In the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July 2025 (HCWS771), I confirmed further reforms to the Right to Buy. We will legislate when parliamentary time allows to bring these reforms into force.

When his Department plans to respond to the letter of May 2025 from the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton to the Cabinet Secretary on the role of special advisers at party political events.

I refer the Hon. member to the answer of 24 June, UIN 59090.